RACING greyhound Libby has been feeling the love and becoming an internet sensation after being rescued from Macau, off the coast of China, and finding a caring home in Wellington.

The five-year-old blue dog arrived in the UK on Valentine’s Day after escaping the horrors of the Macau Canidrome greyhound racing stadium. The track was notorious for its ill-treatment of the dogs which lived and raced there, the animals suffering abuse, neglect, exploitation and injury.

Now Libby has found a home with Saz and Rik Back in Jasmine Gardens, Wellington, and Saz said: “She loves to play and chases tennis balls, and she has learnt how much fun it can be to go out for a walk.”

Libby was one of up to 650 greyhounds left inside the Macau Canidrome when it was closed in July 2018 without any re-homing mechanism in place.

But dog rescue charities around the world pledged their support and on February 14, Libby’s birthday, she joined two other greyhounds on a flight to Heathrow, where representatives from the greyhound and lurcher rescue charity the Forever Hounds Trust met her.

Libby was given a warm and comfortable bed, good food and veterinary care – and volunteers at the charity helped her learn about life as a pet. She had spent almost her entire life confined to the concrete surroundings of the Canidrome, so she was not used to the feel of grass under her feet, travelling in a car or going for a walk in the park.

Saz and Rik were given Libby at the start of May and Libby found it strange at first – she did not know how to go up and down stairs or get on the sofa, for example – but she has settled in well.

Saz said: “Rik and I followed the story of the Macau dogs for several years and supported calls for the closure of the Canidrome and rescue of the dogs.

“We had already adopted a dog from Forever Hounds Trust and when we heard they were going to be taking some of the dogs from Macau we got in touch with them and were matched with Libby, whose name is really Liberty.

“It breaks my heart to think of Libby in the Canidrome and what could have happened to her if animal welfare group ANIMA and Forever Hounds Trust hadn’t been there to help her.

“But when you see her now you cannot believe she has spent all her life in the Canidrome. It is so heart-warming to see her getting so much enjoyment from simply being a much-loved pet.”

Now Libby has discovered how comfortable a bed is she is reluctant to leave it – a video of Rik attempting to make the bed with Libby refusing to move has been watched more than 80,000 times on Facebook in a week. The video, along with Libby’s story, has reached such a big audience that well-wishers from all over the world have been in touch.

Saz added: “We’ve been astounded at the outpouring of love for our special girl and the reaction to the video on social media has been incredible. Libby doesn’t care that she’s famous though! She just wants to enjoy her creature comforts and play!”

Anyone who would like to offer a rescued greyhound a home can contact the Forever Hounds Trust on 03000 111 100 or email [email protected] to find out more.